Tagged: football
Champion Roars: PSG beat Barcelona
Champion Roars: PSG beat Barcelona
by HITEN PATEL(IN)
Ninety minutes of inspired football saw Paris Saint-Germain defeat Barcelona on Tuesday.
A set-piece header from David Luiz in the 10th minute was quickly countered by sensational build-up play from Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi. Messi leveled the affair a mere sixty seconds after Luiz’s euphoria. But the hosts weren’t finished. Marco Verratti would punish Barcelona on another set-piece header before the half. Blaise Matuidi extended the lead with a clinical finish after the break, only to see it negated by a world-class half-volley from Neymar in the 56th minute. But PSG proved to be too much on the night, capturing a much-needed 3-2 victory.
A goal from Blaise Matuidi was ultimately enough for Paris Saint-Germain as they beat Barcelona 3-2 in a Champions League thriller on Tuesday.
The Ligue 1 champions were without talismanic striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic as well as Thiago Silva and Ezequiel Lavezzi, but held off late Barca pressure to end the visitors’ unbeaten start to the campaign and dampen an historic occasion for midfielder Xavi.
Coming off the bench to make a record 143rd appearance in the Champions League proper, the former Spain international was on the losing side after defender David Luiz – a target for the Spanish giants in the close-season – showed his quality in the final third with a smart turn and finish to give PSG what proved to be a short-lived lead after 10 minutes.
Lionel Messi was the man to restore parity less than two minutes later in the Group F clash as he swept home Barca’s 500th Champions League goal, although PSG were ahead again shortly before the half-hour mark.
After Marc-Andre ter Stegen failed to collect a deep corner, Marco Verratti headed home his first PSG goal, with Blaise Matuidi making it 3-1 early in the second half.
While Neymar’s smart finish from inside the area gave Barca hope, PSG had not lost at home in Europe since November 2006 – a record they maintained with some stoic late defending.
When Sergio Busquets lost possession cheaply early on, former Barca man Thiago Motta blazed PSG’s first attempt over the crossbar as the hosts began brightly.
That lively opening was rewarded when Luiz brought down Lucas Moura’s free kick and rolled the ball past Ter Stegen as Barca conceded the first competitive goal of Luis Enrique’s tenure.
PSG’s joy was brief, however, as Messi capped off a slick exchange with Andres Iniesta to level and end his run of three Champions League games without a goal – the Argentina star’s longest goalless sequence since May 2009.
What a victory !!!! Champion Roars!!!!!
Manchester United No.10 – Best choice “Juan Mata”
Manchester United No.10 – Best choice “Juan Mata”
In recent years Man United fans have been crying out for a player who can assist strikers and sit in between the midfield and defence, known nowadays as the number 10. Juan Mata, a then record signing seemed to have solved that problem and made many United fans as happy as Larry. However he has not had the impact he had at Chelsea. Many people put this down to the changes going on at United, and said this is the reason things haven’t gone to plan for Mata. However Mata has not been the first player brought in to solve this problem. Shinji Kagawa arrived at United in 2012 from Borussia Dormund. Kagawa failed to impress and has now been sent back to Borussia Dormund where he has done so well.
So why is it that these proven “number 10’s” cant seem to cut it in the United squad. My reason is one that many may not believe in. This being Wayne Rooney. I know Rooney is believed to be one of the best English players to have ever lived but I believe that the role he plays at United has an effect on Mata and Kagawa. Unlike Van Persie Rooney is not happy staying forward and waiting for the ball to come to him, Rooney likes to come deep and get the ball. With this said players like Mata and Kagawa are played in unfamiliar positions.
United Fans are shouting from the rooftops for players like Mata, but with him playing on the wing United fans are left disappointed and wondering why he’s underperforming. So is the favouritism of Rooney playing in this position worthwhile? Well Rooney has an impressive record of 275 goals and 138 assists. However In the 2012/13 season, Mata’s scored 19 goals and 35 assists in all competitions, 17 of them coming from the premiership.
With the addition of Falcao, Rooney is more than likely going to drop deeper, meaning Mata will either spend much of his time on the bench or be played out of position. I can’t see Rooney being dropped for the likes of Mata and Kagawa had no chance of being preferred over Rooney. When playing in his favoured position Mata has excelled at United and I believe Rooney and Mata can fit in a United team but with the addition of another striker I believe Mata may struggle with Rooney dropping deeper taking Mata’s position.
Chelsea’s Diego Costa looks unstoppable
When foreign players join Premier League clubs, it often takes them anywhere from a few games to an entire season to acclimate to the English game. In less than a month, Diego Costa has become the single most unstoppable force in the Premier League, and his seven goals in four games have Chelsea cruising atop the table.
Costa burst on the scene as a world-class player last season for Atletico Madrid, scoring 27 league goals and leading Atletico to the league title, but many wrote him off as a one-season wonder. After controversially swapping his nationality to play for Spain at the World Cup, Costa had a miserable time in Brazil and was on a plane home after three games — but those struggles are a distant memory for Costa. He’s found a perfect home at Chelsea.
The Blues lead the league with 15 goals in four games, and that total doesn’t appear to be a fluke. Costa bagged a hat trick against Swansea Saturday in a 4-2 win, and each of his three goals came from around the six-yard box. With Cesc Fabregas as a central playmaker and a trio of speedy, improvisational midfielders behind him in Eden Hazard, Oscar and Andre Schürrle, Costa merely has to position himself and wait for the chances to come.
All seven of Costa’s goals have come from inside the opponent’s penalty area, and most of them have been ugly. Costa doesn’t have to curl in shots from 30 yards away to score, his sole job is to be a physical force in the penalty area and convert chances efficiently, and he’s excelling in that role. Chelsea hasn’t had a striker like that since Didier Drogba was in his prime, and as a result, they haven’t won the Premier League in five years.
Costa’s third goal of the day was almost effortless. With Hazard, Fabregas, Oscar and Ramires buzzing around the penalty area, occupying the attention of six different Swansea defenders, Costa took three strides forward and tapped in.
Costa and Chelsea will visit Manchester City next weekend for the first meeting between the two title favorites.Can they do it..??
Zaltan ibrahimovic – Old wine getting better and better
Zaltan Ibrahimovic -Old Wine getting better and better
-by Hiten Patel (In)
The Swedish Golden boy -Zaltan started his career with Malmo Fc in 1990 and made his team to reach First division team honor in following season. The 6’5″ Striker then signed with blatant Dutch club AFC Ajax where he perfectly used his skill to serve his team and been part of Two title -winning teams. Here in AFC Ajax ,he rise as a temperamental player.
After four year with Ajax , he was transfered to Juventus F.C. and led the Italian club to two Series A Champions. But Juventus F.C. troubled with Calciopoli scandal and Zaltan forced to transfered to Inter Milan.At Inter Milan, striker won three straight Series A titles.In 2009 Zaltan announced Top scorer in league.
After that Zaltan traded to FC Barcelona for Samuel E’too . At FC Barcelona he won a title and a Super cup. After the messed up with manager Pep Guardiola ,Zaltan spent remaining season at A.C.Milan for loan. In 2011-12 A.C.Milan purchased the contract outrights of Player. Zaltan played another a title winning season.
After transferring to Paris Saint Germain in 2012, he playe like never before. Zaltan won the two straight Ligue 1 titles. Zaltan won many Domestic season cups.
He scores more and more. Every time his goal shows a new skill of football.His latest brace for the Blagult took him to an unprecedented 50 international goals, and he has now scored nine goals in just four full starts so far this season. The stats involved in the 32-year-old’s career records are simply phenomenal.
While his infamous Champions League drought continues, his record of having won 11 league titles in 13 years – including 10 in the last 11 attempts – is unparalleled amongst the world’s top leagues.And it is not just team awards he has collected time and again. He topped the Serie A scoring charts twice, and has been Ligue 1’s top goal-getter in both campaigns with PSG.
Football-gyan 